Delegates met in Philadelphia at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that produced the U.S. Constitution.
The convention assembled at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. Delegates met from May 25 to September 17, 1787, initially intending to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately drafting an entirely new governing framework.
George Washington presided over the meetings. The delegates debated representation, executive power, federal taxation, slavery, and the relationship between state and national authority. Major compromises included equal representation for states in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
Philadelphia had already hosted the Continental Congress and the approval of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Its role in both events makes the city especially significant for America250. The Constitution was signed there on September 17, though it required ratification by state conventions before taking effect.